Development of job satisfaction scale for health care providers

Job satisfaction is a hypothetical construct that is measured on both cognitive and affective parameters. Job satisfaction has been defined as an affective reaction to one's job and an attitude toward it.

To develop the job satisfaction scale for health care providers.

After exploring existing job satisfaction scales, extensive review of the literature and detailed discussion with different health providers, the statements were prepared for developing the job satisfaction scale. The data were collected on a sample of 333 and analysis was done using SPSS to calculate the Cronbach's alpha value for reliability and validity of the scale. Principal Component analysis and factor analysis of job satisfaction scale were also done.

Reliable and valid scale with Cronbach's alpha value of 0.909 was developed. Scale was tested on a mixed group of health care providers in government health facilities in 2013. In the factor analysis, seven components were identified out of 49 items related to job satisfaction. The seven factors emerged from the analysis. These are: Factor (1) privileges attached with job, (2) interpersonal relation and cooperation, (3) working environment, (4) patient relationship, (5) organization facilities, (6) career development, (7) human resource issues.

The job satisfaction scale having high reliability and validity is a good tool; it could be used in the health sector for understanding the satisfaction level of health care providers. Study provides a good starting point for standardization of scale in both urban and rural health care setting.